FAQs

Why are Chappelli Cycles so freaking cool?

Tough to give an exact reason but maybe it’s because we set out to create bicycles that we want to ride in colours and designs that we get excited about. Our lead designer, Pablo Chappelli is a multi-award winning industrial designer with a love of bicycles and he started Chappelli Cycles so he could build the type of bicycles that he wanted to ride. Fortunately for us, a lot of his friends and now the world love those bicycles too!

What did Chappelli win an international design award for?

In 2012 we won an Australian Design Award for the Chappelli NuVinci bicycle. The judges reviewed products from over 120 entries from leading design companies around the world including BMW, Bose, Apple and Nike. We won the best product in leisure and sporting goods category, winning particular praise for distinctive design of our bicycle, the use of hub technology and the quality of our product. Whilst we won the award for our top end bicycle, we approach the design of all our bicycles with the same dedication. When you buy a Chappelli you are buying quality.

Why are Chappelli bikes so much more affordable than I thought they would be?

Yeah I know right, we get this a lot. At Chappelli Cycles we pride ourselves on creating uniquely styled, high quality bicycles at reasonable prices – they look like they cost a lot more than they do. We are Australian owned and operated and sell direct to the consumer so you don’t pay extra for agents, wholesalers, distributors and retailers. This means you get superior quality bicycles at the equivalent of wholesale prices.

Can i buy now and pay later?

Sure can! Chappelli has partnered with Afterpay so that you can get your hands on a bicycle as soon as possible! This is a very easy process.
Simply select ‘Afterpay’ as your payment method at the checkout.

Either sign into your existing
account or set up a new account with Afterpay with a piece of ID and Bob’s your
auntie, you are ready to go!

Is there some where I can test ride?

In keeping with our online focus with bikes shipped directly to you, we don’t have any permanent stores. Chappelli bicycles can be purchased online via the shop now button on this website or you could visit one of our stockists. Our stockists don’t necessarily carry the full range of models. Click here for locations of our stockists to see if there is one near you, then give them a call to see if they have the model you’re interested in. You can also keep an eye on our socials for details about pop up stores near you! We do offer a 30 day no questions asked returns policy.

Do Sturmey Archer hubs make a ticking sound?

They sure do! You may notice that the Sturmey Archer 3 speed hubs make a ticking sound in second and third gear, this is perfectly normal. So don’t let your cycling “expert” friend tell you there is something wrong with your bike. This is just a quaint little feature of 100 year-old technology that still works today!

Why do most of Chappelli’s bikes have steel frames?

We manufacture most of our bikes with chromoly tubing, chromoly is a steel alloy blend. Chromoly frames work better for everyday city or commuter bikes as chromoly frames deal with bumps and vibration better than aluminium frames. Chromoly frames can absorb the vibrations of daily road use whereas aluminium frames tend to transfer the bumps and vibration to the rider, this is why aluminium framed bikes can feel twitchy or unstable to ride. Plus, chromoly frames are more durable and last a lot longer. The weight savings between aluminium and chromoly is negligible as aluminium frames require a lot more material to provide the same strength as thinner chromoly tubing.

What type of bicycle do I need?

Chappelli Cycles specialises in single speeds and internal hub commuter bicycles. We offer a range of different bicycle frames and internal hub gears chosen for different types of riding needs. Check out our Bicycle Buying Guide for more details on how to choose the correct bicycle for you.

How do I know which size to buy?

We have put together a bike sizing guide to help you choose the correct size for you. If you need any further advice, please just send us an email and we can help.

Do you offer customisations?

Our bikes are already customised compared to other generic blands.. oops, we mean brands. Chappelli bicycles are designed with the unique individual in mind. Our bikes already have the unique appearance of customised bikes, without the wait times and extra expense associated with building custom bikes one at a time.

With that said though, there is nothing to stop you customising your Chappelli over time as all Chappelli components are standardised dimensions and fitments, so you can always add your own parts in future.

Can I attach a child seat to my Chappelli bike?

Of course. We would love you to share your adventures with your pet human!

Child seats can be attached to the front or back on all Chappelli models except the El Toro.

My dream bike is out of stock, what can i do?

Don’t fear! It will be coming back! Please contact us if you would like to pre-order and we will keep you updated on the time frames .

How long does delivery normally take?

Delivery to major regional centres usually takes 6 – 10 business days.

We aim to dispatch all orders within 24 – 48 hours of receiving them, however during busy times it may take us a day or two longer to process, although this is rare.

Can I change my order?

Yikes! If you need to change your order we will do our very best, but once we have released your new bike into the big bad world our hands are tied! Please contact us and it mark URGENT, we will try our best to help.

Where should I have my order delivered to, work or home?

Our freight partners will deliver the bicycle or item to your home or office, as long as someone can sign for it (which is why most people prefer at work). Most people prefer work for smaller items or for bike deliveries if they have their car at work so they can take it home easily. If the courier can’t deliver it on the first attempt they will call you or leave a card to organise another drop. If that fails then the courier will start charging you money for re-deliveries, so be warned! A lot of our customers have their local bike shop complete assembly of the bike for them. In this instance we can arrange to have the bike delivered direct to your bike shop of choice. Our freight partners can not deliver to post office boxes.

How much will delivery cost?

Do you deliver internationally?

Sorry no, not at this stage.
Subscribe to our mailing
list or follow us on the socials for updates on this.

Will I be able to track my order?

You bet! We will provide you with a tracking number via email once we have processed your order. You will be able to track your new bike via our freight partners website.

Is my bike ready to go when it arrives?

When your bike arrives, it is
almost ready. We have done as much as we can in advance but in order to ship
safely, we have left some things for you.

Each bike is about 85% built when
it arrives. In order to get your bike on the road, you simply need to:

attach the handlebars

attach the seat and adjust to a height that suits you

fit the front wheel

adjust the brakes

fit front mudguard (for womens vintage bike only)

screw on the pedals (NOTE: there is a left and a right pedal)

pump up the tyres

This whole process shouldn’t take longer than 30 minutes. For detailed instructions please take a look at the manual that comes with your bike.

Your bike also comes with a bell, decals, and reflectors: these are yours to attach (or not) in any way you like!

If you have any doubts or question your own mechanical dexterity, we recommend you take the bike to a qualified bicycle mechanic to be absolutely sure your bike is assembled correctly ($50-$100 depending on the mechanic).

Do I need special tools to assemble my bike?

Each bike comes with a 6mm Allen Key, 4mm Allen Key and 15mm Wrench. You will need to get yourself a bike pump to pump up the tyres – But you’ll need one of these anyway.

Do I need to service my bike?

We have designed our bikes to be as low maintenance as possible, but all good things need to be cared for! The most important service for
any new bike is its first service. We recommend that you take your bike to say
hello to your local bike shop after 6-8 weeks. On-going servicing after this
depends on how often you use your bike and how you treat it.

If you live by the sea, it’s always good to look after your bike with anti-rust spray and give the bike a regular wash and wipe to remove salt and moisture. For more helpful tips please refer to your owners manual that comes with your bike.

What should the tyre pressures be?

Tyre pressure should be checked
regularly to ensure the tyres are correctly inflated. The tyres should not be
inflated over the recommended maximum. To find out the best pressure for your
bike refer to the sidewall of the tyre on your bike.

Chappelli Cycles tubes have a Presta or French Valve which has a narrow diameter and is specific to bicycle tyres. Most bicycle pumps will have a head designed to fit a Presta Valve however car pumps at service stations don’t have these attachments, so it’s best to use a bicycle pump.

To inflate a tyre fitted with a
Presta Valve:

first remove the dust cap and then;

unscrew (lefty-loosy) the valve lock.

press the valve lock for a split second to break the seal. (psssst! this will release a tiny bit of air)

Then attach the pump head and inflate the tyre to the desired pressure.

screw the valve lock back in (finger tight) then put the dust cap back on.

Do you offer warranty?

Absolutely! We wholeheartedly believe in the quality of our bikes and we want you to too! As a result, all of our bikes come with a 2-year warranty on frame and forks and 12 month warranty on components. In the (super highly) unlikely event that you need to make a warranty claim, please take photos of the fault and email us at hello@chappelli.com with as much information as you can.

Our claims team will process your claim and support you with a repair or replacement. More warranty small print can be found here. To help avoid any potential warranty disagreements, we do recommend you have a qualified bicycle mechanic assemble your bike or check it over to ensure correct assembly.

Do Chappelli bikes have a maximum rider weight limit?

We recommended a maximum rider weight limit of 110kg for our bikes.

I have a warranty claim, what should i do?

If your bicycle was purchased from one of our Australian stockists, please take it in for them to assess. If the warranty claim is genuine, we will support them and you in the repair or replacement of the item. If the bicycle was purchased online, please take photos of the fault, then contact us with an explanation of the fault.

What if I don’t like my new bike?

As long as you return to us within 30 days of receiving your bike, we promise to give you a full refund, no questions asked. We will arrange for a courier to come and collect your bike at no additional cost for you. When it gets back to us in the same condition it left we will process your refund in accordance with our returns policy.

I HAVE A QUESTION THAT IS NOT COVERED BY THE ABOVE?

If you have any other questions or comments, please get in contact with us!